asya makkonen
Asya Makkonen from Russia, living in Montenegro/France
My name is Asya. I like to describe myself with three words - soul (spiritual part), human (material part) and bird (the sense of free flying feels like home for me).
I was born and raised in Russia, in a very big family, I have 10 siblings. Throughout my life I felt like I understood the world and people deeper than most. I learned to see beauty in abandonment and loneliness, as I was lonely a lot. In fourth grade, I borrowed my sister's camera and took my first picture. I've documented my life, feelings, journey through photography ever since. Photography still takes my breath away.
I left Russia, my home, two years ago because of the war in Ukraine and at first I was lost in this big world - I felt like I had no friends, home, mother tongue, purpose. But I learned that as long as I have photography, I can survive, reflect, process, stay curious and kind, find beauty in trauma and uncertain times.
I was born and raised in Russia, in a very big family, I have 10 siblings. Throughout my life I felt like I understood the world and people deeper than most. I learned to see beauty in abandonment and loneliness, as I was lonely a lot. In fourth grade, I borrowed my sister's camera and took my first picture. I've documented my life, feelings, journey through photography ever since. Photography still takes my breath away.
I left Russia, my home, two years ago because of the war in Ukraine and at first I was lost in this big world - I felt like I had no friends, home, mother tongue, purpose. But I learned that as long as I have photography, I can survive, reflect, process, stay curious and kind, find beauty in trauma and uncertain times.
